Patricia sat at the office desk, looking out the window at the garden. Most of the trees in the garden were short flowering trees for ornamental purposes. The trees with flowers and leaves fallen off, leaving only black branches, became like black wires scratching her heart.

She thought she should plant winter trees, with lush green leaves stubbornly persistent even in the cold.

She wrote a brief letter to Isabella.

She asked Isabella to host the afternoon tea party with the noble young ladies scheduled for today at Boras Palace instead of the Botanic Garden.

Patricia hesitated for a moment after writing that far, holding her pen.

She wrote to let her know when Isabella’s returning doctor’s appointment was scheduled and that she hoped to be examined as well.

Isabella’s dedicated physician was the only female doctor in the empire, affiliated with the imperial hospital.

Patricia had been feeling nauseous since going to Tane to attend the wedding, and familiar scents and smells bothered her and made her queasy. At first, she thought it was motion sickness from the long carriage ride, but counting that she had skipped her monthly cycle twice, she could tell.

If the sensitive Eva had been by her side, she would have noticed immediately, but Annie was dull in that regard.

She could have called the palace doctor through the head maid, but then the news would immediately reach Harchen and the Empress Dowager.

She brought her hand to her belly, a habit she had developed lately when alone.

Perhaps because she was certain, she felt like she could sense an unfamiliar pulse beating besides her own heartbeat. It was mysterious.

How delighted Harchen would be to know this fact.

However, she was not inclined to speak ahead of uncertain matters.

Above all, she needed to meet Eden before that. If the pregnancy became known, it would be long after giving birth before she would have a chance to meet Eden.

Patricia instructed Annie to go to Boras Palace to deliver the letter and wait for a reply.

She rested her chin on her left hand at the office desk while waiting for Annie. With her gaze on the lilac tree and the bench beneath it in the garden outside the window, she placed her right hand on her belly and said inwardly.

Baby, can you see that tree? It’s a lilac tree. Ahem, your mother gave Harchen… Ah. Your father’s name is Harchen.

I gave lilac flowers to your father. The meaning of purple lilac flowers is first love, confession. Come to think of it, we kissed that day and it was nice… Oh, this doesn’t seem good for education.

Patricia quickly removed her hand from her belly and covered her mouth.

Not long after, Annie returned with a reply.

Isabella gladly accepted the tea party matter and said her doctor’s appointment was the morning of the day after tomorrow, but to come for tea anytime before then.

Isabella still refused Empress Dowager Diana’s visit to Boras Palace and was at odds with the Empress Dowager.

Patricia asked Bern to prepare a horse.

*

Count Cabanian’s townhouse was across Lake Epi, past Epi Street.

With its orange exterior walls, narrow green roof, and five or six tall spires, it had the feel of an old castle.

As soon as they entered the driveway adjacent to the lakeside, a black iron gate decorated with arabesque patterns and plant stem motifs came into view. Marble statues stood on either side of the gate.

Bern dismounted and rang the call bell. Shortly after, an elderly man came out. Introducing himself as the caretaker, he bowed politely when Bern announced the Empress’s presence.

They walked down a long gallery following him. There were particularly many sculptures and artworks on the walls of the gallery and corridors.

The caretaker guided Patricia and Bern to the reception room. The afternoon sun shone intensely through the windows facing the lake.

Patricia gazed out the window but then frowned as the light hurt her eyes. The surface of the lake sparkled with light as if a silver dress embroidered densely with silver thread had been spread out.

It was quiet due to the plush carpet on the floor and the wooden bookshelves that filled the walls so densely that no empty wall was visible except for the full-length windows. Except for the window area where sunlight poured in, the inside was dim.

Patricia sat on the sofa and drank tea. No sound was heard while drinking tea.

Bored with waiting, she absently reached for a piece of fruit. As she ate the fruit, her appetite suddenly aroused.

Patricia poured extra tea from the teapot and drank it, then reached for the finger foods. She ate everything from chocolate-covered eclairs and biscuits to dried figs and roasted almonds.

Meanwhile, the angle of the sun had tilted, making the light and shadows of the waves on the lake surface more pronounced.

Clack.

The caretaker entered with a neat posture and bowed.

“Your Majesty, I apologize. The Count said he will not meet you and asked you to leave.”

Patricia stared at the caretaker’s balding crown, visible as he bowed his head.

“Count Otto Cabanian, an immigrant who received his title from the Emperor, the first head of the family, refuses an audience with the Empress and orders her to leave. Without even hearing the purpose of the visit? Is the Count busy?”

“That’s… Yes, I apologize.”

“Well then, I’ll come back at this time tomorrow.”

“Ah, that, that’s…”

“Tell the Count.”

Patricia stood up and left the reception room without waiting for an answer.

She rode along the shore of Lake Epi. Every time the horse’s hooves touched the ground, anger welled up inside her. When she had ridden in the opposite direction earlier, her emotions had been elated.

She had been confident she could make Eden, who had changed into Otto, confess while bantering over the truth that would soon be revealed.

After the confession, she planned to hear in detail about the sword duel with Emperor Kazan and the circumstances that led to his transformation into Otto Cabanian.

She wanted to tell him that she had fully regained her memories and reminisce about the memories with Patrick and Eden in the West Tower, and Eden’s care on the bloody battlefield.

She wanted to tell him about Queen Consort Pamila’s demise, Eva’s death, and the Heun village where Eva’s grave was located.

And she had something to ask of him.

But what was he so afraid of that he wouldn’t even meet her?

She understood. He must be afraid of a dead person’s name being called. If discovered, not only Eden but all those involved in the plan would be in danger.

However, she still couldn’t understand.

Did he keep it a secret thinking I would act carelessly? If Bern knew, it meant all three of the Round Table Knights knew, so did that mean he couldn’t trust me more than them?

Who set that standard? Was it Patrick, Eden… or Harchen?

Patricia felt her head hot where the sunlight touched it, but her body shivered. Above all, she was hungry. She was very hungry even though she had only skipped one lunch.

She missed Eva’s cooking. At times like this, it would be nice to dip freshly baked bread into warm mushroom soup sprinkled with ground peanuts.

Eva, why are my emotions so volatile? Why do I feel so sorrowful and sad?

Patricia felt a wave of sadness as she thought of Eva.

She entered the White Palace and asked the head maid for soup and bread.

She had thought of mushroom soup, but what the head maid brought was a strongly scented truffle soup. The intense truffle aroma made her nauseous, and it didn’t suit her taste, so she only ate the bread.

She desperately craved a juicy steak. Then she was suddenly surprised by her own unusual persistent craving, unlike her usual self.

Anna said she didn’t attend the tea party at Boras Palace, and wondered where she had been, that the head servant knew first and came looking for her in confusion, and expressed concern about how to report to His Majesty the Emperor.

“That’s enough, Anna. I want to rest. I’ll tell Harchen myself.”

After eating the bread, she drank black tea with milk and sugar cubes. Feeling full, drowsiness overcame her.

She went to her bedroom, intending to take a short nap before going to Aster Palace. As soon as she lay down on the bed with palm wood planks, she fell into a deep sleep.

In her sleep, someone wiped her face and neck with a warm wet towel. They lifted her limp body and fed her lukewarm honey water.

She woke up in the early dawn with her stomach growling. Patricia blinked her eyes two or three times until they adjusted to the bluish surroundings.

Harchen was sleeping right in front of her. She knew it was her bedroom in the White Palace because of the hard palm wood planks.

Someone must have changed me into nightclothes.

She was using Harchen’s arm as a pillow, and he was still in his formal uniform.

Ah, did he fall asleep without changing his clothes?

His strong arm wrapped around her waist, which felt heavy. She was bothered by his heavy hand pressing on her slightly rounded belly. She tried to lift his arm and pull her body away. At that moment, Harchen woke up and pulled her even closer.

“Harchen, are you awake?”

“I slept earlier, but I’m not sleeping now.”

Harchen pulled the arm that was supporting her head and lightly kissed her crown.

“Why did you sleep so long? Are you hungry? Your stomach kept making growling noises. I couldn’t put anything in a sleeping person’s mouth.”

Harchen got up from the bed and picked her up sideways like a doll.

“Ah, Harchen! Be careful.”

Harchen sat her down on a chair at the reception room table. The table was set with more food than appropriate for early dawn.

He poured lemon water into a crystal glass for her. He placed a concave soup plate on a solid fuel burner in front of her and lifted the glass cover. It was mushroom soup. Patricia stirred the soup with a spoon and then took a spoonful.

Yes, this is it.

The savory aroma and warm, soft texture made her smile.

“You must be hungry after skipping dinner?”

Harchen placed a flat glass plate on the solid fuel burner and thinly sliced the steak diagonally, lightly heating just the surface, then pierced it with a fork and held it in front of her mouth.

“Can you digest this?”

“Give it to me.”

Patricia opened her mouth and quickly ate it. The appropriate texture of the meat and the savory sauce melted on her tongue. She felt pleased, as if good nutrients were being absorbed by the fetus in her belly.

“Aren’t you eating, Harchen?”

“I ate late at night.”

The Emperor had ordered a late dinner to be set in the reception room upon hearing that the Empress had been napping since late afternoon. He tried to wake her several times but failed. He only drank two glasses of Panian.

Harchen placed finely cut steak and cooked vegetables in front of her and unfolded some documents placed on one side of the table.

He hadn’t changed his clothes, but had freshened up. His hair swept back also seemed slightly damp.

“Harchen, where are you going?”

“Yes, I have to leave after watching you eat.”

He didn’t take his eyes off the documents. According to Anna, the head servant knew about Patricia’s departure from the palace first, but Harchen didn’t ask.

Patricia put down her cutlery side by side and placed both hands on her belly. She could be certain of her pregnancy.

“Harchen, I have something to tell you in three days, no, two days. How about dinner in the salon?”

She blushed somewhat shyly but looked at him with a bright smile.

You smile? Do you want to immortalize The Last Supper in a painting in the salon?

Harchen, raising his gaze from the documents, wore a frozen, cold expression for an instant as he looked at her.